New stage on hand luggage affair Ryanair. The Antitrust Authority has suspended the new hand luggage policy of the low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air, which would come into force on 1 November 2018.
“According to the new policy – recalls the Authority – it is possible to transport only one small bag free of charge, to be placed exclusively in the space under the seats, while a price supplement is required for hand luggage (trolley), which however represents a burden that is not possible and foreseeable for the consumer which should be included in the standard rate". Consequently, the request for a supplement "for an essential element of the air carriage contract, such as hand luggage, provides a false representation of the real ticket price and spoils the comparison with the rates of other companies, misleading the consumer ”.
Ryanair and Wizz Air will therefore have to "temporarily suspend" any activity aimed at requesting a price supplement with respect to the standard rate for the transport of "large hand luggage", "by making available to consumers free of charge, on board or in the hold, a space equivalent to that provided for the carriage of hand luggage in the aircraft". The companies will have to inform the Authority within 5 days of the measures adopted in compliance with the decision but Ryanair has always made it known that it would not stop in front of what it considers a measure aimed at facilitating and accelerating passenger boarding procedures.
